This first installment of Supraphon’s new Martinu symphony cycle lives up to the highest expectations. Jiri Belohlavek recorded the Fourth Symphony with this same orchestra for Chandos, but this newcomer features both more vivid sound and a more trenchant interpretation. The finale in particular formerly sounded a touch staid. Here, at the same tempo, the extra attention to rhythm and accuracy of orchestral detail continually titillate the ear. Listen for example to the colorful wind sonorities in the finale’s coda, and to the extra tension generated by the firmly articulated off-the-beat melody as set against the on-the-beat accompaniment. This is the sort of thing that makes this music come alive. Both here and in the Third Symphony Belohlavek supposedly uses new critical editions, but the differences between these and the more familiar ones are so slight as to be of little importance.
The Third Symphony is even more impressive: there is no finer performance currently available. Previously the best Martinu symphony performances have been Bryden Thomson’s (also on Chandos), but this newcomer really does take the palm, especially in the slow movement, which has all of Thomson’s momentum and tension without his sometimes excessive haste. Belohlavek’s shaping of the anguished central climax alone is worth the price of the disc. Martinu rarely writes a real fortissimo, and like Haydn he reserves use of dynamic extremes on the loud side for brief periods of special emphasis. How well Belohlavek understands this! He also captures the symphony’s most haunting moment–the last movement’s heartbreaking chorale for solo string quartet set against an eerie chromatic accompaniment in low flutes and piano–as well as anyone ever has. From the crushing conclusion of the first movement to the finale’s last percussive thud, this is a tremendous reading of a truly great work.
As noted earlier, Supraphon’s sonics have more focus and impact than the previous work in this venue by Chandos, offering a world of improvement over Neumann’s estimable but distinctly old-sounding cycle for the same label. There also is a very good digital recording of the Third Symphony by Neumann with the Czech Philharmonic that’s still available in Japan. The conductor takes a small optional cut in the finale, but with the release of this wonderful new recording there’s no reason to worry about that one unless you are an obsessive Martinu completist. I await with great eagerness the continuation of this important and (so far) tremendously satisfying project.
